GST: Aadhaar verification to be mandatory for new dealers from Jan 2020
Bengaluru, Sep 14: The GST Network on Saturday decided to make Aadhaar authentication or physical verification mandatory for new dealers from January 2020 to check malpractices in Goods and Services Tax.
"Aadhaar authentication of new registered dealers will be mandatory. Earlier it was optional. But we have noticed in two years that large number of fly-by-night operators are registering themselves as GST dealers. They make fake invoices also," Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who heads the group of ministers of GST Network, told reporters.
The GSTN, he said, had decided that from January 1, 2020, all new dealers enrolling will have to have Aadhaar authentication.
Infosys was given the contract to prepare the programming, software, among others, he added.
Modi said those who do not want to give their Aadhaar numbers would have to undergo physical verification.
"In both cases, GST number will be given within three working days of Aadhaar authentication and physical verification," Modi added.
In the first phase, Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for new dealers. Afterwards, all those enrolled on GSTN would be asked to provide their Aadhaar numbers.
As refunding was a big issue, especially in the last 30 months after the launch of GST, they had decided on completely going online for it from September 24 this year from a single source, either by the Central GST or state GST, Modi said.
He said most of the processes done manually lacked transparancy and took a longer time.
"After the online process, dealers will get payment from the Public Finance Management System," Modi said.
Exporters did not suffer much as their payments were through IGST and they got refunds within six to seven days.
Till date Rs 93,416 crore were refunded to them, he said.
The GSTN also recommended launch of the much simplified new return system from January 1, 2020, as the earlier one was a bit complicated, Modi said.
It (new return), in three formats of Sahaj, Sugam and Normal, would be rolled out in one go for all types of taxpayers put together, he said, adding that the annual return date has also been extended to November 30, 2019.
Sushil Kumar Modi said that among the 92.58 lakh registered dealers, only 64.17 lakh were entitled to file their returns as they had submitted the 3B and GSTR-1 forms.
Of the 64.17 lakh, only 21.35 lakh had filed their returns, which worked out to 33 per cent.
"The GST council has to take a call on what to do with these non-filers as their numbers are very low," he said.
"We are getting a number of suggestions to simplify the return filing process. So the GST council will decide how to simplify the return filing system," Modi said.
He said those not filing their returns for two months would have their E-Way bills blocked, starting from November 1 this year.
"We have noticed that 27.22 lakh dealers have not filed their returns of June and July and their E-Way bill can be blocked. Among them, about 5.20 lakh dealers are still using E-Way bills," Modi said.
"We are giving them a chance and I will give an example of Karnataka, where 1.75 lakh are bound to be blocked.
Among them, 35,033 dealers were found using E-Way bills every month actively. So alerts were sent to these dealers, he added.
Modi said the GST Council meeting scheduled in Goa on September 20 would see members of the 15th Finance Commission attend it.
Asked whether GST would look into rationalisation of taxes for a particular sector like the automobile sector, he said the agenda has not yet been circulated.
He, however,opined that no state would be ready to give any kind of concession to this sector or any others.
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Manmohan Singh was my friend, philosopher and guide: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi, Dec 27: Describing former prime minster Manmohan Singh's death as a "personal loss", Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday said he was her friend, philosopher and guide and that in his death, the party has lost a leader who was the epitome of wisdom, nobility and humility.
In her message on Singh's demise, Sonia Gandhi said he leaves a void in the national life that can never be filled.
"We in the Congress party and the people of India will forever be proud and grateful that we had a leader like Dr Manmohan Singh whose contributions to India's progress and development are immeasurable," she said.
"In Dr Manmohan Singh's passing, we have lost a leader who was the epitome of wisdom, nobility and humility, who served our country with all his heart and mind. A luminous and beloved guiding light for the Congress party, his compassion and vision transformed and empowered the lives of millions of Indians," the former Congress president said.
Singh was loved by the people of India for his pure heart and fine mind, Gandhi said, adding that his advice, "wise counsel" and views were eagerly sought and deeply valued across the political spectrum in the country.
"Respected and admired by leaders and scholars all over the world, he was hailed as a statesman of immense wisdom and stature. Dr Manmohan Singh brought brilliance and distinction to every high office that he held. And he brought pride and honour to India," she said.
"For me, Dr Manmohan Singh's death is a deeply personal loss. He was my friend, philosopher and guide. He was so gentle in his manner but so resolute in his deeply held convictions.
"His commitment to social justice, secularism and democratic values was deep and unwavering. To spend any time with him was to come away enlightened by his knowledge and sagacity, moved by his honesty and integrity, and awed by his genuine humility," Sonia Gandhi said.
Earlier in the day, the CPP chairperson paid homage to Singh at his residence where his mortal remains are kept for people to pay their last respects.
She also attended a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting convened to pay tributes to the former prime minister.
